How Much Does Shopify Cost in Australia? (2025/26 Pricing Breakdown)
The short answer: Shopify pricing in Australia starts at $7/month for the Starter plan and goes up to $575 AUD/month for Advanced Shopify (or custom pricing for Shopify Plus). But here's what most people don't tell you: the real cost differences between plans aren't about features—they're about transaction fees and staff accounts.
Let's cut through the marketing fluff and break down what you're actually paying for.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform that lets you build and run an online store without needing to be a tech wizard. It handles everything from product listings and secure payments to shipping integrations and analytics—all from one dashboard.
Whether you're a Sydney retailer testing the waters or scaling nationally, Shopify makes launching an online store faster, simpler, and more secure than building from scratch.
Shopify Pricing Plans in Australia (2025)
Here's the breakdown of Shopify's core plans for Australian merchants:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $11 AUD | Social selling | No full website |
| Basic* | $56 AUD | Solo entrepreneurs | Full online store |
| Grow* | $149 AUD | Small teams | 5 staff accounts |
| Advanced* | $575 AUD | Scaling businesses | 15 staff accounts |
| Plus | USD $2,300+ | Enterprise brands | Unlimited staff |
*First 3 months available for $1/month
Limited-time offer: Shopify currently offers the first 3 months for just $1/month on Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans.
Even better: As a Shopify Partner, I can set up your store on a development plan—meaning you don't pay a cent in hosting fees until you're ready to launch. No upfront costs, no monthly fees while we build. You only start paying when your store goes live.
The Truth About Plan Differences
Here's what nobody tells you: the main difference between Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans isn't features—it's transaction fees and staff accounts.
All three plans give you:
Unlimited products
A full online store
Discount codes
Abandoned cart recovery
Up to 44.2% shipping discount
10 inventory locations
24/7 chat support
In-person selling by phone or POS device
What actually changes:
Online Card Rates (using Shopify Payments):
Basic: 1.75% + 30¢ AUD per sale
Grow: 1.6% + 30¢ AUD per sale
Advanced: 1.4% + 30¢ AUD per sale
In-Person Card Rates:
Basic: 1.95% + 0¢ AUD
Grow: 1.85% + 0¢ AUD
Advanced: 1.75% + 0¢ AUD
Third-Party Payment Gateway Fees:
Basic: 2%
Grow: 1%
Advanced: 0.6%
Staff Accounts:
Basic: Not listed (typically 2)
Grow: 5 staff accounts
Advanced: 15 staff accounts
The math: If you're doing $10,000/month in sales on the Basic plan, you're paying $175 in transaction fees. On the Grow plan, that drops to $160—a $15 saving. But the Grow plan costs $93 more per month. You'd need to be doing ~$62,000/month in sales before the fee savings justify the upgrade.
Bottom line: Start with Basic unless you need more staff logins or you're doing serious volume.
Shopify Starter: The $11 Plan
The Starter plan costs just $11 AUD/month and is designed for social selling. It's perfect if you're:
Selling through Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook
Using a link-in-bio setup
Testing a product idea with low overhead
What you get:
Product pages (no full website)
Buy buttons you can embed anywhere
Messaging and basic marketing tools
What you don't get:
A custom storefront
Themes or branding options
Full eCommerce features
It's a solid option for creators and side hustlers, but if you want a real online store, you'll need to upgrade.
Shopify Transaction Fees in Australia
If you use Shopify Payments (Shopify's built-in payment processor), you avoid additional gateway fees. Here's the breakdown for Australian merchants:
| Plan | Online Card Rate | In-Person Card Rate | 3rd-Party Gateway Fee (Afterpay, PayPal etc) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1.75% + 30¢ AUD | 1.95% + 0¢ AUD | 2% |
| Grow | 1.6% + 30¢ AUD | 1.85% + 0¢ AUD | 1% |
| Advanced | 1.4% + 30¢ AUD | 1.75% + 0¢ AUD | 0.6% |
If you use a third-party payment gateway (like PayPal or Stripe), Shopify charges an additional transaction fee on top of the gateway's fees. These fees add up fast, so using Shopify Payments is almost always the smarter choice.
Pro tip: Use Shopify Payments to avoid double-dipping on fees.
POS & In-Person Sales
If you have a physical store, Shopify offers POS (Point of Sale) systems:
Shopify POS Lite: Included free with all plans
Shopify POS Pro: $119 AUD/month per location (advanced features like staff management and custom reports)
Products sync between your online and offline stores, so inventory stays accurate in real time.
Shopify Plus: Enterprise-Grade Features
Starting at USD $2,300/month (~$3,700 AUD), Shopify Plus is built for high-volume brands and includes:
Dedicated account manager
Custom checkout experiences
Wholesale and B2B features
200 inventory locations
Unlimited staff accounts
Advanced automation tools
Competitive rates for high-volume merchants
Priority 24/7 phone support
If you're doing over $1 million/year in revenue, Plus might be worth exploring.
The Hidden Costs: What You're Not Being Told
Shopify's monthly plans are just the starting point. Here are the additional costs most small businesses face:
1. Apps ($0–$300+/month)
Most stores need apps for email marketing, reviews, upsells, or advanced features. Popular apps like Klaviyo, Yotpo, and ReCharge can add $50–$200/month each.
Lucky for you, I know all the good free apps that will kick off your store with great functionality at a much lower cost.
2. Themes ($0–$350 one-time)
Free themes exist, but premium themes with better design and features cost $180–$350USD.
As a supporter of small Aussie businesses, all my Shopify development pricing includes a Premium Shopify theme of your choice up to the value of AUD$400 (~$260USD).
3. Transaction Fees (varies)
Even with Shopify Payments, you're paying 1.4%–1.75% per sale. If you're doing $50,000/month in sales, that's $700–$875 in fees. Keep in mind however, these fees are much cheaper than having to pay for a Stripe, Square or similar payment processor subscription as well as their transaction fees on top—and you can set it up all from your Shopify dashboard!
4. Domain Name (~$20/year)
You'll need a custom domain (e.g., yourstore.com.au). GoDaddy is my domain provider of choice as they’re always so cheap for the first 12 months to help a business get on it’s feet.
Note: If you’re wanting a .com.au domain, make sure you have an ABN registered. You won’t be able to purchase a .com.au domain without it!
5. Email Hosting (optional)
Shopify doesn't include email hosting. I recommend Google Workspace (~$11/month) or a similar service for professional emails connected to your domain. Google Workspace allows you multiple aliases within your one workspace subscription price (e.g. hello@, info@, accounts@, support@).
How to Save Money on Shopify
Utilise Shopify Payments to avoid another subscription fee from Stripe, Square or PayPal
Grab the $1/month promo for your first 3 months
Work with a Shopify Partner (like me!) to avoid paying hosting fees during development
Research and invest in a Premium Theme upfront to score on additional features that will suit your business or industry
Audit your apps regularly—delete anything you're not actively using
Optimise for conversions so you're making more from the same traffic
Is Shopify Worth It in Australia?
Yes—especially if you're serious about eCommerce. Shopify is:
Reliable: 99.99% uptime
Secure: PCI-compliant and SSL included
Scalable: Handles everything from 10 orders/month to 10,000
Local-friendly: Supports Afterpay, Zip, and Australian shipping integrations
Compared to platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WooCommerce, Shopify might seem pricier upfront—but it's built specifically for eCommerce, which means fewer headaches and better performance as you grow.
Shopify Alternatives (and Their Costs)
WooCommerce: Free plugin, but you'll pay for hosting, themes, and plugins (~$30–$100/month)
Wix: $27–$159/month, easier for beginners but limited eCommerce features
Squarespace: $27–$65/month, great for simple stores but less flexible
BigCommerce: $39–$399/month, similar to Shopify but with a steeper learning curve
The reality: While some platforms look cheaper, they often lack Shopify's app ecosystem, scalability, and eCommerce-specific features.
Final Thoughts
Shopify pricing can feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand what you're actually paying for, it's straightforward:
Start with Basic unless you need more staff accounts or lower transaction fees
Use Shopify Payments to avoid extra gateway charges
Budget for apps and themes—they're part of the real cost
Work with a Shopify Partner to save on development costs
Optimise your store so you're making more from every visitor
Whether you're launching your first online store or scaling an existing business, Shopify has a plan that fits.
Need help setting up a high-converting Shopify store? Get in touch with Kida Digital for expert Shopify website design and optimisation services—and pay nothing in hosting fees until you're ready to launch.
FAQs
How much does Shopify cost per month?
Plans start from $11 AUD/month (Starter) to $575 AUD/month (Advanced). Shopify Plus starts at USD $2,300/month.
Is Shopify worth it?
Yes, especially if you're focused on growth, mobile optimisation, and security. It's one of the most reliable eCommerce platforms available.
How much does Shopify charge per purchase?
Transaction fees for Australian merchants range from 1.4% to 1.75% + 30¢ AUD per sale if you use Shopify Payments. Third-party gateways incur additional fees of 0.6%–2%.
Is Shopify good for Australian businesses?
Absolutely. Shopify supports local payment methods like Afterpay and Zip, plus Australian shipping integrations and currency options.
Can I try Shopify before committing?
Yes! Shopify offers a free trial, and new merchants can get 3 months for $1/month. Working with a Shopify Partner means you pay nothing during development.
